Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has lost her appeal to have her suspension lifted by World Athletics (WA) after failing an out-of-competition test.
The U.S.-based sprinter was thrown out of the Tokyo Olympics Games on the eve of the semifinals of the women’s 100m after testing positive for human growth hormone. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) revealed then that Okagbare failed an out-of-competition test taken on July 19. She appealed against the suspension immediately, insisting on seeing the result of her B Sample.
Okagbare, a medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, was allegedly handed four-year ban after the result of her B Sample came out with the same result.
“Okagbare started her four-year ban long ago,” a source close to World Athletics (WA) said in a chat with The Nigeria Guardian. “It is just unfortunate Blessing Okagbare found herself in this mess. When the result of her A Sample came out, Okagbare had the option of accepting it, which could have seen her ban reduced to two or three years, but she insisted on her B Sample. “WA wants all athletes to compete and win clean. Okagbare’s ban will elapse before the Paris 2024 Olympics,” the official stated.
Okagbare, who won Olympic silver in the long jump in Beijing 13 years ago, holds the Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 100m, set in Glasgow in 2014.
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